title: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Spanish patients with HCV infection: relationship between HCV genotype 1b, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The influence of the infecting virus genotype on the progression of the underlying liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HCV genotypes in Spanish patients with chronic HCV infection and to elucidate the relationship between the infecting genotype and the severity of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of frequency distribution of HCV genotypes was carried out in 414 Spanish patients with chronic HCV infection, including 243 patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic chronic hepatitis, 112 patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and 59 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. HCV genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the 5' non-coding region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infection with HCV genotype 1b was found in 72% of patients with chronic hepatitis and in more than 90% of patients with cirrhosis, with or without hepatocellular carcinoma. Older age, infection with genotype 1b and absence of overt parenteral exposure as a possible source of infection were associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma by univariate analysis and this association was confirmed by regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV genotype 1b is associated with advanced liver disease in our geographical area. However, this may be related to a cohort-effect caused by over-representation of genotype 1b in older patients with more advanced disease, because, in our country, this HCV genotype appeared earlier in time and is therefore associated with more prolonged periods of infection.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: López-Labrador
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ampurdanés
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Forns
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castells
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sáiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruix
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez Tapias
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jiménez de Anta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged